A Journey Through My 1000th Medium Article: Lessons Learned
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Chapter 1: Discovering Medium
I can't quite recall how I first came across Medium, but the moment I learned about it, I was compelled to explore further. Little did I know it would turn out to be one of the best choices I've made.
While sitting in the Argo Tea store at Columbus Circle, I began drafting my inaugural article. After clicking publish, I anxiously awaited the response. To my dismay, it was rather uneventful. Well, not entirely. A supportive friend graciously applauded my efforts, but my hopes of achieving viral success would have to wait. I accepted this setback with grace.
At that time, I was still employed by the now-defunct HVY platform, which had promised to expand the audience for its writers and deliver substantial financial rewards. Unfortunately, those promises fell flat. One of my pieces about a Florida Man gained traction there, yet I never saw a penny from it. When I inquired about my earnings, they continuously delayed any answers.
Eventually, I reached my breaking point and left. Shortly after, I noticed a small deposit in my bank account. It was merely a few cents, but it confirmed that my solitary piece on Medium had actually earned me some income. I recognized the path I needed to take.
My friend Shain joined me on Medium full-time, and it was August 2019 when everything began to align. Though I was still uncertain about generating income or appealing to an audience, I was determined to figure it out.
Section 1.1: Finding My Niche
Navigating what resonated with readers proved challenging initially. Writing personal essays was never my forte, yet I gave it a shot. The results were far from impressive. Why are they still available? Each one serves as a reminder of my growth throughout this journey.
True Crime stories, however, consistently performed well for me. I leaned into that genre, initially publishing my work on Harsh Light News, owned by Shain. In those early days, I often wondered if Shain and I were competing to see who could publish more articles.
After a few months, I decided to delve into humor writing, targeting The Bad Influence as my platform of choice. My friends Matt and Rueben ran the publication, and I desperately wanted to be part of their creative circle.
In the spirit of Heart, we crafted something magical during that time. We developed role-playing characters and narrated stories from their perspectives. While there was an overarching narrative, I doubt any of us remember the specifics.
Despite the chaos, we enjoyed ourselves, and my earnings began to improve.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Breakthrough Moment
One day, I decided to write about the craft of writing itself, and that decision transformed my experience. A piece I composed on copyright was curated, leading to unexpected recognition and engagement. The article exceeded my wildest expectations, igniting a desire to replicate that success.
But how could I achieve this consistently? The answer was surprisingly straightforward: write about what excites me. If I'm passionate about a topic, my audience is likely to share that enthusiasm.
This approach has proven successful time and again. Even when I initially felt a piece had flopped, 90% of the time, it would unexpectedly gain traction later on.
In late 2019, a date that remains debatable, Sam reached out to me about launching a publication focused on true crime. I immediately agreed. Collaborating with one of the best writers I know felt like fate.
Once Crimebeat was established, things began to flourish. During this period, I was consistently publishing at least one piece for Crimebeat, another for TBI, and one for HLN, along with additional content for various other publications.
It was a whirlwind.
But the financial rewards were worth the effort. I also saw an increase in curations, with approximately 25–30% of my pieces being selected for that honor.
Chapter 2: Embracing Change
Then, the pandemic struck, altering everything.
Everything changed for the better. After returning to Michigan to weather the lockdown, I began to reassess my approach. Writing four pieces a day was not sustainable.
I became concerned about the quality of my work. Would I garner more curations if I invested more time and care into my writing? Would my audience support me in focusing on fewer, more thoughtful pieces?
The answer to the first question was an emphatic yes. As I conducted more research and produced in-depth articles, Medium's staff responded positively, frequently curating my work. Friends grew weary of my constant announcements of new curations, but I took immense pride in my achievements.
As for the second question, my audience overwhelmingly supported my decision to produce longer pieces, urging me to explore topics more deeply.
Over the years, the platform's algorithm has evolved, leading to various ups and downs. At times, I felt genuine frustration with the changes. Not everyone I encountered was kind, but the majority were supportive.
Recently, I began conversing with Karen, a talented writer. Throughout our friendship, she has encouraged me to revisit personal essays, primarily because they are currently in demand on Medium.
I’ve attempted to write them again, and they have improved. Yet, neither my audience nor I are particularly fond of them. However, I remain committed to trying, especially regarding topics like abuse.
The beauty of Medium lies in its diverse audience. Even amid my frustrations, I refuse to disparage it. This platform has granted me a voice to share my writing, and my books have benefited from it.
I am grateful to all of you for helping me reach this milestone. Here’s to the next thousand articles!
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Explore my journey from earning nothing to generating over $1000 monthly on Medium, and learn how you can achieve the same success.